Spring-switch for overhead electric conductors



(No Model.)

U. J. VAN DEPOELE.

EPEEEG SWEEGE EOE OVERHEAD ELECTRIC GUEDUGTOES.. No. 414,609. PatEE'ted Nom 5 1889.

N Pinus. PLmIo-Lmwgmphm, wnshmgmn. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT -EEicEB CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, 0F LYNN, lrlASSAClIL'SETTH.

SPRING-SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,609, dated November 5, 1889.

Application filed January 24, 1889.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Switches for Overhead Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Myrinvention relates to electric railwaysin which the supply-current is conveyed by a suspended electric conductor and carried to the motor upon the traveling vehicle by means of a traveling contact-wheel or its equivalent pressing upwardly against vthe supply-conductor; and it consists in a switch which will be entirely automatic in its action where the traveling contact-wheel is to be diverted onto a branch or tu r11-out, b ut which may be manually operated to permit the contact device to remain upon the main conductor and pass the turn-out without entering the same.

The various details of construction and arrangement of a device embodying myinvention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view showing main and branch conductors and a switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and 4. are detail sectional views on the line 3 8 and 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View on the line 5 5 of Figui.

As indicated in the drawings, Ais the main conductor seen at a point where a branch conductor B diverges therefrom. The branch B may extend to a separate line or comprise the supply-conductor for a turn-out such as is used on single-track railways to admit of the cars passing each other. A metallic bail or ear C is securely attached tothe upper side of the conductor A, and a similar though shorter bail D is similarly attached to the cross piece or plate E, which may be attached thereto in any convenient manner, as by bolts E', or formed integral with the said bails C D. 'Vith either construction the plate E unites the bails, and so acts to support the extremity of the branch conductor B. To the plate E is pivotally connected a hollow7 or grooved tongue F, which forms a continua- Serial No. 297,350. (No model.)

tion of the branch conductor ll, and is normall-y held laterally against the conductor A by a suitable spring e, acting againstl an arm or proj ection f extending from the tongue F. The vtongue F is, as stated, made hollow or with a deep lateral groove j", and so formed as to lap the under side of the main conductor A g but it is also curved outwardly and downwardly therefrom, so that a grooved contact wheel g, coming toward the outer end of said tongue in the direction of the arrow l, will engage the same and be deflected outwardly toward the branch conductor ll, and at the same time downward suiiiciently for its flange t0 clear 'the main conductor. In following along said tongue the wheel G will diverge laterally from the main conductor and be directed to the extremity h of the branch con ductor B, which it is then free to follow.

The switch as a whole is supported in any convenient manner, as by cross-wires H, connected to suitable ears 71., formed on the plate E.

When it is desired that a contact-wheel moving in the direction indicated by the arrow I shall continue on the main conduct-or, instead of being automatically switched to the branch B, the tongue Fis held away from the said main conductor by means of a suitable switch-rope i., attached to the tongue F or to the arm f thereof. A contact-wheel, as G, moving toward the switch upon the branch conductor B, will automatically pass to the main conductor by following the tongue F. A similar contact-wheel moving toward the switch upon the main conductor A will force the tongue F laterally away from the said main conductorsuficiently to allow its iianges to pass and remain in engagement therewith.

It will be understood, therefore, that with a switch constructed as just described a con tact advancing' toward it upon the main conductor in the direction of the arrow will force the tongue F outward and remain upon said conductor; also, that a traveling contact advancing upon the main conductor toward the front end of the switch, as indicated by arrow l, will be switched to the branch conductor by following the tongue F. It will also be apparent that when it is desired that a traveling contact advancing toward the IOC front end of the switch should remain upon the main conductor by overcoming the power of the spring by which the tongue is normally held against said main conductor, as by pulling the switch-rope, the contact will be permitted to travel uninterruptedly along the main conductor.

Other forms of construction than that here shown may be employed to embody the invention, and I therefore do notl restrict myself to the exact details shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A switch for suspended elect-ric conductors, comprising a main conductor and. a branch conductor havin g a laterally-movable switch-point, the extremity of which laps the under side of the main cond uetor, substantially as described.

2. A switch for suspended electric conductors, comprising a support secured to the main conductor and sustaining the terminal of the branch, a tongue forming a continuation of the branch conductor and extending into engagelnent wit-h the main'conductor, the extremity of said tongue lapping or embracing the under side of the main conductor at its point of junction therewith to dsengage the or to render the switch inoperative, substan.

tially as described.

4. A switch for suspended conductors, comprising stationary supports, main and branch conductors secured thereto, a laterally-moving tongue forming a continuation of the branch conductor, a suitable spring connected with said tongue and normally holding the salne laterally against the main conductor, and means for holding the tongue away from the main conductor when it is desired that the contact should pass the switch without leaving the main conductor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Witnesses:

FRANKLAND JANNUs, J. W. GIBBONY. 

